The Eatonton City Council voted July 5, to accept a “take it or leave it” offer from the Putnam County Commission on revenue sharing from the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST).
The two sides have been negotiating for months on what percentage of the one-cent sales tax extension approved by voters in November should be given to the city.
For the past 10 years, the city has received 31 percent of the roughly $4 million collected each year. Councilmember Teresa Doster said that this time, the county first offered only 15 percent to the city.
The city’s last counteroffer was 29 percent for years one to three and 25 percent for the remaining seven years. However, the county responded with a gradual reduction formula and gave the city a deadline of July 22 for approval.
“This is not exactly what we sent them, but very close to what we asked of them,” Mayor John Reid said in support of its approval. The council vote was unanimous except for Councilmember James Gorley (Ward 2), who was not at the meeting.
The new agreement lowers the city share to 29 percent starting next year. The percentage will decrease one percent in each of the following four years until reaching 25 percent in 2027, where it will remain for the final five years of the agreement.
The Local Option Sales Tax adds one percent to the costs of products and services purchased in Putnam County. Local governments statewide say that more of the tax is paid by people traveling through the county rather than local residents.
The tax has been around for a long time and expires this year, so this is a continuation for another 10 years. Under state law, the county is required to split the cost with city governments within the county.
City council also heard from Putnam County Commissioner Daniel Brown (Dist. 2), who asked the city to join his push for a Georgia Department of Transportation study of the intersection of Highways 44 and 16.
The two roads split into a “Y” at Putnam General Hospital and Putnam County Middle School, but northbound travelers must make an unusual left turn to cut over to Highway 44. Meanwhile, southbound drivers on 44 merging onto 16 must spin their heads to the left like Linda Blair in The Exorcist to check for oncoming traffic.
Speaking during the time for public comment, Brown said that he has seen the school system is considering a $20-million bond to build a new elementary school behind the middle school. He said he also heard in the past about some people thinking that a round-about should be constructed to fix the intersection.
Brown said that the intersection is in the city limits and it would carry more weight if the city would talk to DOT directly.
“Ya’ll talk to DOT and get them involved,” he said. “It takes them a little while. Request that they put their people out there, monitor it, and catch it on those days when school is going and traffic’s backed up. Understand that there’s growth involved. It needs fixing and it needs future planning.”
Also at the July 5 City Council meeting, Putnam County High School rising sophomore Karmyn Manning was honored for her achievements at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Gymnastics Championship in Springfield, Ill., last weekend. Led by a 9.8 score on the vault, Manning placed first overall in her age group, winning a gold medal as National Champion.
The daughter of Kedric Manning and Carla Lawson, Karmyn has been competing since 2013 when she joined Elite Gym USA team in Milledgeville. In 2017, she also won the national all-around championship, but was later sidelined by a tumor in her right forearm. It turned out to be benign, but had to be removed, according to a proclamation read by Mayor John Reid.
For Karmyn Manning, this month’s winning performance is the culmination of five years of working her way back to excellence.
Later in the City Council meeting, City Administrator Gary Sanders said he is still waiting for word from the state about the city’s tax digest. That will allow council to set the millage rate for property taxes in the city.
Eatonton’s proposed $5,176,747 general budget is available for viewing by the public at city hall. A public hearing on the budget is set for Aug. 2, at 6:45 p.m., prior to the regular city council meeting in the Putnam County Commissioner’s Meeting Room (117 Putnam Dr., Eatonton).